Nicaragua 2013

Journey with the Compassion Bloggers to Nicaragua June 18-22, 2013 and experience Compassion International’s ministry to children through pictures, stories and videos.
Are you a blogger interested in traveling with Compassion Bloggers in the future? Let us know here.

Kelly

Mike Varel

Shaun Groves

Traci

Fresh Posts from the Field

Morning came early for me on Sunday. Like REAL early. At 3:45 am, I crawled out of bed to get ready to go home. My body ached, my eyes stung, and my head felt foggy. I was a whole-bunch-of-something, but I don’t know what. Excited to go home and see my family, yet sad to leave the beautiful children of Nicaragua. My precious roomie, Edie, and I moved around slowly as we tried to apply a little bit of life to our faces and enjoy one last messy bun moment together. Wanting to crawl back into bed and yet wanting to fly like superman home, we finally packed everything up and headed down to the hotel lobby. My other Compassion buddies were there waiting for us, and we joined them in their quiet, half-asleep chatter. K0rina, our Compassion Tours and Visits Specialist from Nicaragua told us it was time to get on the van to head to the airport. We moved toward the van like a slow moving herd of cattle and plopped our exhausted bodies into the seats. Still in a sleepy daze, we began the long road home. Right before we approached the airport, Korina turned around and said she had something to say. She told us how much this trip of Compassion bloggers meant to the children of Nicaragua…how much she has enjoyed working with us…how the children will never be the same because of the work that Compassion does. Then she began thanking us for coming to Nicaragua and for loving on the children. She thanked us for sharing the children’s stories with all of our readers all over the world. It was really hard for me to accept her thank you’s. It is always hard to receive them when you know will all your heart that you received way more than you gave.

I’ve been keeping watch. Pacing footsteps. Counting heart-mends. Not heartbreaks. Even though Nicaragua brought heart splits, tear drops, knees bent. I’ve been holding breath. Thinking… And when all the pain swelled and heaped up to yield His last exhale, I wonder if the world stood quiet, and in unison took in one long inhale. Standing. Also holding breath. Waiting for His return. But don’t we know? Release costs. Release from apathy. Release from self-thought. Release from sin. Our release cost the Father His only Son. By way of His broken, holy, sacrificed body. Release costs. It always costs.

She held on to me the entire day. Always one hand close by, around my shoulder, patting my knee, clasping my hands. All day long she was showing love to me through her touch. That is a powerful memory. Sine then I have wrestled with the questions, Why? Why is this sweet grandmother I had never met before today able to show me such love? How?

Why Blog for Compassion?

"No organization or opportunity to serve has more changed my life than Compassion Bloggers.

Compassion Bloggers has given profound purpose & meaning to our lives— & I can't imagine our lives without the opportunity of this ministry. It's beyond comprehension to think of our lives without the purpose of serving with Compassion."